Chapter 36: Ethan’s Plan
The night of Alexander and Miranda’s engagement party had arrived. The mansion was elegantly decorated, filled with important guests, soft music, and sparkling lights. The atmosphere was formal, but Alexander’s heart was uneasy; something about the night felt off.
Ethan, who had claimed to feel unwell earlier, stayed in his room under Isabella’s care. Despite his nanny’s protests, the boy insisted he needed to rest and remain in bed to avoid getting worse. However, as soon as Isabella left to check on the party, Ethan sprang to life, full of energy and excitement. He knew this was the perfect opportunity to carry out his mischief against Miranda.
With a mischievous grin, he pulled out a small bottle of food coloring he had hidden under his pillow and quietly slipped out of his room. He made his way to the nearby bathroom where the glasses for the guests' drinks were being prepared. Without being noticed, he added a few drops of coloring to some glasses and quickly returned to his room, letting the magic of his prank take its course.
From his window, he soon observed how some guests began murmuring in discomfort as they noticed their lips and teeth had been tinted a faint shade of blue. Nervous chuckles turned into laughter as they caught their reflections in mirrors or glass surfaces, realizing the effect. The party’s formal air was suddenly filled with unexpected cheer, much to Miranda’s irritation as she tried to maintain her composure.
–This is unacceptable, Alexander –Miranda hissed, her tone exasperated.– Look at your guests! This party was supposed to be perfect!
Alexander, who had also noticed the detail, shrugged, trying to suppress a smile.
–Maybe someone wanted to make the evening more interesting –he replied calmly, giving no hint that he knew who the culprit was.
Meanwhile, Ethan watched the chaos and laughter from his window with immense satisfaction. To him, there was no better way to express his disapproval of the engagement than with a prank that reminded everyone happiness wasn’t about perfect parties.
When Isabella returned to check on him, she found Ethan lying quietly in bed, pretending to be asleep. Feeling relieved, she kissed his forehead, suspecting nothing of her "patient's" role in the nearby party.
Ethan, content with the first part of his plan, decided he could do something more to sabotage his father’s engagement. As soon as Isabella left the room, he slipped out again, sneaking through the hallway and down the service stairs to avoid being seen by guests or staff.
Passing through the kitchen, he noticed a cage containing a rat that one of the staff had caught earlier that morning. Without hesitation, he opened the cage and carefully took the restless rodent in his hands. Holding it securely, he crept into the main hall, searching for Miranda.
Miranda stood at the center of the room, chatting with some guests and wearing her perfectly tailored white silk dress. Ethan slipped behind her, and when she turned slightly to greet another guest, he took the chance to slide the rat gently under the folds of her dress. Feeling trapped, the animal began to move rapidly, instantly triggering Miranda’s reaction.
–Ah! What is that? –she shrieked, feeling something scurry along her back.
Confusion turned to panic as the sensation intensified. Screaming, she flailed her arms, trying to dislodge the intruder. In her frantic attempts, she stumbled backward into a table laden with glasses and wine bottles. The crash was deafening as the bottles spilled, drenching her completely in red wine and ruining her pristine dress.
The scene was chaotic: Miranda, covered in wine, her dress destroyed, and the rat scurrying across the floor, stood humiliated and enraged.
–Ethan! –she screamed, instinctively knowing who might be behind the prank.
Alexander, observing the spectacle from a distance, struggled to maintain his composure, but a small laugh escaped as he saw Miranda completely lose control. Isabella arrived just then, immediately taking Ethan’s hand and whispering:
–Ethan, did you have something to do with this?
Ethan simply shrugged, feigning innocence, but his eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
Miranda, furious and trying not to make an even bigger scene in front of the guests, turned to Alexander, her gaze demanding he take action. But he, calm as ever, tried to pacify the situation:
–Miranda, it was an accident... or maybe someone just wanted to add some excitement to the party –he said, casting a knowing glance at his son.
Miranda took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure as the guests whispered and chuckled at the memory of her soaked dress. For Ethan, the night couldn’t have gone better.
The engagement dinner continued after Miranda’s humiliating moment, though tension lingered in the air. The guests, after their initial shock, tried to act normally, though some exchanged amused glances and suppressed laughter.
Miranda, no longer in her ruined white dress, had quickly changed into a simpler gown, but her mood hadn’t improved. Despite her mother’s efforts to maintain appearances, the amused glances from the attendees reminded her constantly of what had happened. Each time someone approached to congratulate her on the engagement, she fought to contain her anger.
Alexander, seated at the other end of the table, watched Ethan, who had decided to stay for dinner. The boy, playing innocently with his napkin, wore a calm expression, though his mischievous eyes betrayed him. Alexander knew his son was responsible but couldn’t help feeling a certain admiration for his cleverness. After all, the scene had achieved the impossible: making the stiff, pretentious dinner feel a little less suffocating.
When the time for toasts arrived, Miranda stood, forcing a smile.
–I want to thank everyone for joining us on this special night –she said, raising her glass.– Alexander an
d I are excited for this new chapter in our lives.